Carnelle Pait , Administrative Assistant to the Vice President of Curriculum

The standard for each curriculum program shall be based on the following criteria established by the State Board for the awarding of degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

I. Associate in Applied Science Degree (A.A.S.)

The Associate in Applied Science Degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 64 and a maximum of 76 semester hours of courses at the 110-199 and 210-299 levels. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers.

A. The associate in applied science degree curriculum program shall include a minimum of 15 semester hours of general education courses selected from the Common Course Library, including six hours in communications, three hours in humanities or fine arts, three hours in social or behavioral sciences, and three hours in natural sciences or mathematics.

B. The associate in applied science degree curriculum program shall include a minimum of 49 semester hours of major courses selected from the Common Course Library. Major courses are those which offer specific job knowledge or skills.

1. Within the major hour's category, each curriculum program shall include identified core courses or subject areas. The required subject or course core shall be comprised of subject areas or specific courses or both which are required for each curriculum program. Core subjects or courses shall be based on curriculum competencies and shall teach essential skills and knowledge necessary for entry-level employment. The number of credit hours required for the core may vary from title to title but shall not be less than 12 semester hours of credit.

2. The major hour's category may also include hours required for a concentration of study. A concentration of study is a group of courses required beyond the core for a specific related employment field. A concentration shall include a minimum of 12 semester hours, and the majority of the course credit hours shall be unique to the concentration.

3. Other major hours shall be selected from prefixes identified on the curriculum standard. A maximum of nine semester hours of credit may be selected from any prefix listed, with the exception of prefixes listed in the core or concentration.

4. Work experience, including cooperative education, practicums, and internships, may be included in an associate in applied science degree curriculum program up to a maximum of eight semester hours of credit.

C. An associate in applied science degree curriculum program may include a maximum of seven other required hours to complete college graduation requirements. These courses shall be selected from the Common Course Library.

D. Selected topics or seminar courses may be included in an associate in applied science degree program up to a maximum of three semester hours credit.

II. Associate in Arts Degree (A.A.)

The Associate in Arts Degree shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 64 and a maximum of 65 semester hours of approved college transfer courses at the 110-199 and 210-299 level. Within the degree program, the institution shall include opportunities for the achievement of competence in reading, writing, oral communication, fundamental mathematical skills, and the basic use of computers.

A. The associate in arts degree program shall include a minimum of 44 semester hours of general education core courses selected from the Common Course Library and approved for transfer to the other University of North Carolina constituent institutions. The general education core shall include:

1. Six (6) semester hours of English composition;

2. Twelve (12) semester hours of humanities or fine arts, with four courses to be selected from at least three of the following disciplines: music, art, drama, dance, foreign languages, interdisciplinary humanities, literature, philosophy, and religion. At least one course shall be a literature course. Three semester hours credit in speech or communications may be substituted for three semester hours credit in humanities or fine arts.

3. Twelve (12) semester hours of social or behavioral sciences, with four courses to be selected from at least three of the following disciplines: anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology. At least one course shall be a history course.

4. Fourteen (14) semester hours of natural sciences or mathematics: six hours shall be mathematics courses with at least one course in introductory mathematics: eight hours shall be natural sciences courses, including accompanying laboratory work, selected from among the biological and physical science disciplines.

B. The associate in arts degree program shall include a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 21 additional semester hours selected from the Common Course Library courses which have been approved for transfer to the other University of North Carolina constituent institutions. Courses in health, physical education, college orientation, or study skills may be included. Work experience, including cooperative education, practicums, and internships, may be included up to a maximum of one semester hour of credit for career exploration. The associate in arts degree curriculum programs shall include additional general education and professional courses which have been approved for transfer.

III. Diploma

The Diploma shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 36 and a maximum of 48 semester hours of courses at the 100-299 course level.

A. Diploma curricula shall include a minimum of six semester hours of general education courses selected from the Common Course Library. A minimum of three hours shall be in communications and a minimum of three semester hours shall be selected from courses in humanities and fine arts, social and behavioral sciences, or natural sciences and mathematics. A diploma curriculum program may include general education courses at the 100-109 level.

B. Diploma curricula shall include a minimum of 30 semester hours of major courses selected from the Common Course Library.

1. A diploma curriculum program which is a stand-alone curriculum program title shall include identified core courses or subject areas within the major hour's category.

2. Courses for other major hours in a stand-alone diploma curriculum program title shall be selected from prefixes identified on the curriculum standard. A maximum of nine semester hours credit may be selected from any prefix listed, with the exception of prefixes listed in the core or concentration.

3. Work experience, including cooperative education, practicums, and internships, may be included in a diploma curriculum program up to a maximum of eight semester hours credit.

C. A diploma curriculum program may include a maximum of four other required hours to complete college graduation requirements. These courses shall be selected from the Common Course Library.

D. An institution may award a diploma under an approved associate in applied science degree curriculum program for a series of courses taken from the approved associate degree curriculum program.

1. A diploma curriculum program offered under an approved associate degree curriculum program shall meet the standard general education and major course requirements for the diploma credential.

2. A college may substitute general education courses at the 100-109 course level for the associate-degree level general education courses in a diploma curriculum program offered under an approved degree program.

3. The diploma curriculum program offered under an approved associate degree curriculum program shall require a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit from courses extracted from the required subject or course core of the respective associate in applied science degree curriculum program.

E. Selected topics or seminar courses may be included in a diploma program up to a maximum of three semester hours credit.

IV. Certificate 

The Certificate shall be granted for a planned program of study consisting of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 18 semester hours of courses at the 100-299 course level.

A. General education is optional in certificate curricula.

B. Certificate curricula shall include a minimum of 12 semester hours of major courses selected from the Common Course Library.

1. A certificate curriculum program which is a stand-alone curriculum program title or which is the highest credential level awarded under an approved associate in applied science degree or diploma program shall include 12 semester hours of core courses or subject areas within the major hour's category.

2. Courses for other major hours in a stand-alone certificate curriculum program shall be selected from prefixes identified on the curriculum standard. A maximum of nine semester hours credit may be selected from any prefix listed, with the exception of prefixes listed in the core or concentration.

3. Work experience, including cooperative education, practicums, and internships, may be included in a certificate program up to a maximum of two semester hours credit.

C. A certificate curriculum program may include a maximum of one other required hour to complete college graduation requirements. This course shall be selected from the Common Course Library.

D. An institution may award a certificate under an approved degree or diploma curriculum program for a series of courses totaling a minimum of 12 semester hours credit and a maximum of 18 semester hours credit taken from the approved associate degree or diploma curriculum program.

D. Selected topics or seminar courses may be included in a certificate program up to a maximum of three semester hours credit.